Yokosuka Line 横須賀線
Yokosuka line of JR East E235 series
By Sakurayama 7 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110237633
The Yokosuka Line is a railway connecting Tokyo to the Miura Peninsula that forms the western flank of Tokyo Bay.
The Yokosuka Line is a railway line that goes from central Tokyo down the Miura Peninsula that forms the south-western flank of Tokyo Bay.
The Yokosuka Line therefore links Tokyo to the big cities of Kawasaki and Yokohama, the popular travel destination of Kamakura, and the city of Yokosuka.
From Tokyo Station, some Yokosuka Line trains continue on east via the Sobu Line to Chiba prefecture without the need to change trains.
For convenience it is referred to the Yokosuka Line all the way from Tokyo Station to the last stop of Kurihama Station, but the Yokosuka Line proper is the section of the line south of Ofuna Station.
Yokosuka Line History
The Miura Penisula has always been militarily important because of its strategic position at the mouth of Tokyo Bay. The Yokosuka Line serving the peninsula was built well over a century ago, in 1889, to provide transportation to what was one of Japan's most important military bases.
The Yokosuka Line proper (Ofuna southwards) ran only as far as Yokosuka until 1944 when it was extended as far as its current terminal station, Kurihama, to cope with a surge in post-war use.
The Yokosuka Line underwent a major renovation in 1980 when a dedicated line was built for it between Tokyo and Ofuna. This massive project, called the "SM Separation," involved, among other things, establishing the new station, Shin-Kawasaki, and relocating the Yokohama Station building and the adjacent Tokyu Toyoko station. Yokosuka Line trains now run parallel to the Tokaido Line as far as Ofuna instead of on it, greatly relieving rail congestion.
Yokosuka Line Stations
There are 19 stations on the Yokosuka Line, which covers a distance of a little over 70 km. All Yokosuka Line trains are local (kakueki-teisha 各駅停車) stopping at every station. Between Yokohama and Ofuna stations, the Yokosuka Line acts as a local service for the Tokaido Line, which it runs parallel to.
Tokyo Station 東京駅
Tokyo Station is the first station on the Yokosuka Line and provides connections to all over Japan by shinkansen, as well as transfers to a dozen other lines, above ground and subway, including the Narita Express train to Narita International Airport.
Shinbashi Station 新橋駅
Shinbashi Station is in the Shinbashi district of Tokyo, which is where inner-city company workers eat, shop and drink.
Transfer at Shimbashi Station to the JR Yamanote Line, the Tokaido Line, the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Toei Asakusa Subway Line and the Ginza Subway Line.
Shimbashi Station is close to both Ginza, Tokyo's prime high-class shopping district, and the gleaming towers of Shiodome.
Yokosuka Line Train
©Japan Visitor
Shinagawa Station 品川駅
Shinagawa Station in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward is a major station for travelers, with numerous hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities closeby.
Transfer at Shinagawa Station to the JR Yamanote Line, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Keikyu Main Line, the Keikyu Airport Line (to Haneda Airport, 14 minutes), the Keihin Tohoku Line, and the Narita Express.
Nishi-Oi Station 西大井駅
Nishi Oi Station is in Shinagawa ward, Tokyo. At the south-west end of Nishi-Oi Station is the grave of the famous Japanese prime minister, Hirobumi Ito (1841-1909).
Transfer at Nishi-Oi to the the Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
Musashi-Kosugi Station 武蔵小杉駅
Musashi-Kosugi Station is in Kawasaki and is in a major shopping and entertainment district.
Transfer at Musashi-Kosugi to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Nambu Line, the Tokyu Toyoko Line, and the Tokyu Meguro Line.
Shin-Kawasaki Station 新川崎駅
Shin-Kawasaki Station is in Saiwai Ward, Kawasaki City. Yumemigasaki Zoo Park is about 8 minutes walk west of the station. Kashimada Station on the Nambu Line is 4 minutes walk east of Shin-Kawasaki Station. Most of the shopping is on the east side of the station.
Transfer at Shin-Kawasaki Station to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Nambu Line (Kashimada Station).
Yokohama Station 横浜駅
Yokohama Station, in Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, is a major railway hub and one of the busiest stations in Japan.
Transfer at Yokohama Station to the Tokaido Main Line, the Keihin-Tohoku Line and Negishi Line, the Yokohama Line, the Keikyu Line, the Sagami Line, the Tokyu Tokoyo Line, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Minatomirai Line, and the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line (B20).
Hodogaya Station 保土ヶ谷駅
Hodogaya Station is in Hodogaya Ward, Yokohama City. The West Exit is surrounded by a small shopping area. The East Exit has a walkway over the Tokaido Highway (National Highway 1) to a bus station.
Transfer at Hodogaya Station to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
Kamakura Station, Yokosuka Line
©Japan Visitor
Higashi-Totsuka Station 東戸塚駅
Higashi-Totsuka Station is in Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City. The East Exit has a walkway to extensive shopping facilities that include department stores.
Transfer at Higashi-Totsuka Station to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
Totsuka Station 戸塚駅
Totsuka Station is in Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City. This busy station is in the middle of a heavily built-up commercial area, surrounded by stores, malls, supermarkets, department stores and banks. Totsuka Ward Office is just out the East Exit. The Kashio River runs alongside the station.
Transfer at Totsuka Station to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Narita Express, the Tokaido Line, and the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.
Ofuna Station 大船駅
Ofuna Station is in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. This 11-track station is in the middle of a heavily built-up commercial area, surrounded by stores, malls, supermarkets, department stores and banks - starting with the Lumine Wing mall that occupies the station's east exit. The Kashio River runs alongside the station. Ofuna Kannon Temple with its 25 meter (82 foot) high Buddha statue - clearly visible from the station - is just 2 minutes walk west of the river. Josenji Temple and its extensive man-made Taya Cave complex is a short bus ride north of Ofuna Station.
There is a large bus stop area on the east side of the station just south of the Shonan Monorail Station, another out of the West Exit across the Kashio River and then another just south of it.
Transfer at Ofuna Station to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line (some of which continue on to the Yokosuka Line), the Tokaido Main Line, the Narita Express, the Negishi Line, and Yokohama Line and the Shonan Monorail.
Kita-Kamakura Station 北鎌倉駅
Around Kita-Kamakura Station are numerous imposing and picturesque temples, such as Engakuji with its massive bell, Shozokuin a sub-temple of Engakuji with its Shariden housing a tooth said to be of the Buddha, Tokeiji the "Divorce Temple," Jochiji with its "Nectar Well," Meigetsuin the "Hydrangea Temple," Kenchoji the "grandfather of Japan's Zen temples," Ennoji dedicated to the "Ten Judges of Hell," and various sub-temples - within easy walking distance.
The station building is by the platform for Tokyo-bound trains. Changing to the other platform involves crossing a level crossing. However, the station is barrier-free, and includes an elevator.
Transfer at Kita-kamakura Station to Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains.
Kamakura Station 鎌倉駅
Kamakura Station is in richly historical Kamakura.
Kamakura Station is the terminal station of the Enoshima Electric Railway, next to the JR station.
Transfer at Kamakura Station to Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains and the Enoshima Electric Railway (from the West Exit).
Zushi Station 逗子駅
Zushi Station is in the Zushi district of Zushi City. Zushi Station's "West Exit" is actually on its north side, and the "East Exit" is actually on the station's south side. The "East Exit" is where most of the commercial and other facilities are to be found, and is where local buses and taxis leave from. Zushi City Hall is 3 minutes walk south of the station.
Transfer at Zushi Station to Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains and the Narita Express. Shin-Zushi Station, the first station on the Keikyu Zushi Line, is 250 meters from the East Exit of Zushi Station.
Taura Station, Yokosuka Line
©Japan Visitor
Higashi-Zushi Station 東逗子駅
Higashi-Zushi Station is in the Numama district of Zushi City. There are no transfers at Higashi-Zushi Station.
Taura Station 田浦駅
Taura Station is in the Taura district of Yokosuka City. The station's shorter than normal platform means that the doors of the very front car of 11-car trains that serve the station do not open. There are no transfers at Taura Station. Just north of Taura Station is a naval base, and numerous old naval buildings. There are no transfers at Taura Station.
Yokosuka Station 横須賀駅
Yokosuka Station is in Hemi-cho, Yokosuka City. Just north-west of the station (as the crow flies) is the US Yokosuka military base. The station is very near the sea.
There are no transfers at Yokosuka Station, but Hemi Station on the Keikyu Kurihama Line is 400 meters to the south of Yokosuka Station.
Kinugasa Station 衣笠駅
Kinugasa Station is in the Kinugasa district of Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. There are no transfers at Kinugasa Station.
Kurihama Station 久里浜駅
Kurihama Station is the final station on the Yokosuka Line. Keikyu Kurihama Station on the Keikyu Kurihama Line is just 3 minutes walk east of the station, and is where most of the local shopping is.
Read about the JR Rail Pass for discount tourist travel on JR lines.
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